Water-softening apparatus.



P. c. mnson. WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS.

APPPIOATIOH FILED D20. 13, 1911. 1 ,O35 ,436.

Patented A 8 13, 1912 2 BHEETB-BEBET 1.

" II c.

PQ c. HANSON.

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS.

2 sums-3mm 2.

APPLIOATIQE FILED 1730.13, 1911. 1,085,436.

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FREDERICK C. HANSON, 0F OMAHA, hTEBRASKA.

WATER-SOFTENING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed December 13, 1911. Serial No. 665,539.

1'0 all whom '1' it may concern lie it known that I, Fnnnsnrcn C. HANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omahafin the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Tater-Softening Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved water-softening apparatus of the class employing the force of gravity for automatically moving the mechanical parts to effect the mixing of a liquid chemical or softening agent. in measured quantities. with a supply of water, and generally used in connection with laundries.

' One of the objects of the invention is to provide a water softening apparatus which may be used in the treatment of either hot or cold water, so constructed and arranged that the liquid softening agent will be conducted to the discharge pipes of the water measuring receptacles or compartments and will be discharged into and caused to flowwith the dischargei'l water to thereby become thoroughly mixed with the water which is treated.

Another object is to provide means which will cause a distribution of the softening agent uniformly with and in exact measured quantities to the water to be treated.

The invention also includes a new means whereby the liquid softening agent may be agitated to advantage; means for opening the valves of the measuring receptacles coincideutly with the flow of the liquid softening agent, and adjustable devices for increasing or decreasing the supply, as may be desired, of the softening agent.

lVith these objects in View, and others to be hereinafter mentioned, the invention presents a novel construction, combination and arrangement, as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated inthe drawing,

it. being understood that changes in form, size, proportion and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Inth-c accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a water softening apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views relating to the containers for elevating the chemical solution,'Fig. 2 being a side view of the container, the upright guide and phcket being broken away,

Fig. 3 showing the container. in longitudinal section, as on line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical sect-ion of the casing on line b I) of Fig. 1, to show the arrangement of valves in the bottoms of the water-measuring receptacles. Fig. 5 is a detail, being a plan view showing the agitating frame upon the bottom of the solution tank. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 0 c of Fig. 1, to show the actuating buckets and levers connected therewith. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line (Z d of Fig. 1, showing the slidably mounted containers for elevating the chemical solution. Fig. 8 is a vertical front view of the casing showing a weighted arm and toothed segment mounted upon the actuating shaft for preventing movements of the actuating buckets, when empty.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, numeral 9 indicates a casing, preferably rectangular in form; and in the casing, parallel with its front and rear walls 10 and 11, are provided upright partitions 12 and 13. Between the rear wall 11 and partition 13 is provided a flat bottom 1st (Fig. 4.), and midway'between the sides of. the casing to connect with wall 11 and partition 13 is provided the upright cross partition 15, whereby two compartments of equal size and adapted to contain water are formed, and for convenience they are designated as measuring receptacles or compartments 16 and 17. A bottom 18 (Fig. 7.) is provided between the front wall 10, partition 12 and the side walls of the casing to form a tank 19, for containing a. chemical solution.

At the top and near the front part of the casing and disposed parallel with partition 12 is indicated a supporting strip 20 having, midway between the side walls 21 of the casing, downwardly projecting bracket 22, best shown in Fig. 7.

At 28, disposed midway between the side walls and near the upper part of the casing, is indicated a horizontal operating shaft, said shaft traversing partitions l2 and 13, and having suitable bearings at its respec tive ends in bracket 22 and upon the rear wall of the casing. Rigidly mounted upon shaft 23 to overhang receptacles 16 and 17 is a fiat deflecting plate or trough 24.

At 25, above shaft 23 (Fig. 4.), is indicated a water supply pipe, and it will'be understood that a partial rotation of this pipes 27 into a receiving tank or other con tainer disposed immediately below casing 9 not shown).

At 2.; above valves 26, is indicated a rock lever: it is loosely mounted upo'n shaft 23 and is provided near its ends with upwardly projecting spiral springs 29; upright links 30 extend between and are pivotally 1nount ed at their terminals upon the valve caps and the ends of this rock lever. ltigidly mounted upon shaft 23 and disposed above rock lever 2% is rock-bar 31 adapted to bear upon springs29, and it will be understood that it shaft 23 is partly rotated in either direction it will result in the longitudinal movements of links 30 in directions opposed to each other, and thereby one of valves 26 will be opened and the other will be closed. the operation being that the ends of rock-bar 31. during its swinging move ments will actuate springs 29 in'alternation, to effect corresponding .inovcments of the rock lever and movements of the links, connected therewith.

From the description it will be seen that when valve 26 of one of receptacles 1G or 17 is closed, trough 24.- at that time will be inclined in a nianner'to cause the water from supply pipe 25 to pass therein, andv tioned. Casing 9 is formed with an open bottom between partitions 12 and 13. At

is indicated an actuating shaft, disposed parallel with and below shaft '23: said shaft may have any suitable bearings, but preferably it traverses partition \12 and wall 10 of the casing, and has terminal hearings upon Wall 10 and partition {Suitably spaced apart and rigidly mountethmid way between their ends, upon shaft 33 is a pair of rockarms 34 (Fig. 6), each havlng at its middle an upwardly projecting, transverse finger or lever 35, and disposed between the 'espective ends of rock-arms 34 a re actuating buckets 36 and 37, said buckets having, at substant ally the middle of their end walls,

a pivotal mounting 38 upon the ends-of said rock-arms. At 39, rigidly mounted at its middle upon shaft 23, is indicated a rockbar having a slotted, rigid, downwardlyprojecting finger or lever 40 pix'otally connected at 41 with the finger or lever 35. Links 4-2 are employed, tieir upper and lower-ends being pivotally connected at 43.

and 44, respectively, with the ends of rock bar 39 and the lower ends of the actuating buckets. Mounted in andnear theupper part of partition 13 and extending above the actuating luickets are water passageways, spouts or troughs 0 leading from receptacles 16 and 17, and the mounting provided for the actuating buckets is such that at the time 'one of said buckets is disposed in an upright position, the opposite bucket willbe inclined.

During operation, if the valve in receptacle 16 is closed and the water from pipe 25 is flowing. the water will flow from the spout e of this receptacle within bucket 36, after said receptacle has been filled, and on account of the weight of this bucket and its contents, it will swing downward to cause a part rotation of shatt 33. This movement of shaft :33 will cause a closure of the valve of receptacle 17 and the inclination of trough 24 will be changed in a manner to cause the water from pipe 25 to be discharged into the lastnamed receptacle, and the valve of re ccptacle 16 will be opened, since links 42 are connected with the bottoms ofthe re-. spective buckets and with the rock lever 39.

At this time shafts23 and 33 have their part rotations inopposite directions,' .and the levers or fingers35 and 40 assistiinoporation, since they prevent undue vibrations and any lateral play of buckets 36' and 37 during their swinging movements;

Rigidly mounted upon the front end of shaft 23, above tank 19 is rock lever 45 (Fig. 7.). Mounted upon walls 21 and disposed within the tank are containers or pockets 46 and 47; and conducting pipes 48 and 49 extend between and connect these pockets, re-

spectively, with the. discharge pipes 27 of re-- ceptacles l6 and 17. Withln tank 19. adja,

cent to pock'ets 46 and 47 are indicatedwertical strips or guides 49, their upper ends preferably being mounted upon the walls of.

the pockets, their lower ends being secu'ped upon the bottom of the tank;

At 50 are indicated comparatively small, tubular containers of uniform diameters, each being provided mi its side wall with projections; or lugs 51 for the support therebetweon of rollers '52; and said containers are mountedin a'm'anner to be moved slidabty upon the guides, the walls of the containers being in contact with the inner sides of the guides. and the roliers engaging the opposite or outer sides of said guides. .t 53 are ndicated links. handles or bails for the containers, their lower and upper endsbeing pivotally mounted, respectively, upon the lower parts at opposite sides of the containers and upon' the ends of rock lever 45; and it will be understood that the movements of shaft already described, will cause containers 50 to be elevated in alternation, and if tank '19 is filled or provided with a suitable supply of chemical solution it will be deposited in measured quantities in pockets 46 and 47 and will be conducted by pipes 48 and 4a to pipes and will become thoroughly mixed with the water when [lowing therewith, in said discharge pipes 27.

In operation, at the time one 'of the poekets'receives a charge or supply of the chemical solution, as for instance pocket -17, the valve in receptacle l7 will be open, and the solution'will therefore flow in common with the water from that valve. Couducting pipes are provided which have bores of limited diameters, this diameter being such that the time required for the flow of water from a receptacle 16 or 17 and the time required for the flow of a chemical solution from the pocket connected therewith will be equal. Provision is made for a stirring-frame for agitating the chemical solution. The frame consists of upright side strips 54: with numerous cross-strips or blades 55 disposed edgewise and connected therewith. The frame is supported upon 7 the bottom of the tank. and when the frame be moved longitudinally at each partial ro-' tation of shaft 33. outwardly of the front wall lfi of the casing upon the terminal of shaft on. is rigidly mounted the toothed segment and secured upon said wall below shaft 3 is the supporting plate 58' provided with the stub shaft or pivot 59 (Fig. and mounted upon pivot 59-is the pin ion 60 in engagement with the teeth of the segment and having an arm 61" with a weight 62 removably secured there n and adjustable longitudinally thereof. Plate. 58 .is provided with ledges or lugs (33. and secured thereon are resilient bearing members or springs Get. The parts are so constructed and arranged that the weighted arm 6] moves in an a re, substantially, of 180 degrees at each partial rotation of shaft 33.

One of the functions of the weighted arm is to cause a ditl'erence in the balancing of buckets 36 and 37. since there is a period of time, during operation, while one of these buckets is being filled and the other is being emptied, that their weights are equal; at this time the arm is disposed substantially in a horizontal position and tends tomaintain the actuating bucket which is being tilled in an upright' position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Since the weight adjustable longitudinally of the arm, the force required for causing the swinging movement of the arm may be conveniently controlled. Also by reason of the provision of the weighted arm and the momentum thereof. shaft 33 may be driven more positively and with a greater force than it would be driven it simply the weight of one of the tilled buckets 36 or 37 is depended upon/and thereby, friction is overcome, and an additional force which is fully under control, is

provided for moving the levers, valves and containers 50.

For the purpose of determining the uau-- tity of the charges of the liquid "chemical, each container 50, preferably is provided with a movable bottom 65' carrying a packing ring 66, as shown in Fig. 3; and by means of a rotatable standard or threaded bolt 67 in engagement with the bottom, the

opposite to its spout 69, and the bolt 67 may be supported by or mounted in the cap 68.

It will be understood that water from the supply pipe 25 continues to flow all of the time, during operation. and while one of receptacles 16 or 17 is being filled the other is being emptied. lVhen one of these receptacles is full, the Water continues to flow therein until a sufficient quantity of water passes into an actuating bucket from av spout e of the receptacle to cause, by fo ce of gravity. a partial rotation of shaft -'lhere will be no movement of a shaft or lever while the water is passing from the supply pipe to the receptacle and from thence -to the bucket, as last described, but when the bucket has been filled .to-an extent sutii-j eient to overcome friction of the shafts and levers and to cause a swinging movement of arm 61, and to overcome suction of oneof the valves. the bucket will swing downwardly. The inclination of trough 2st thereupon will'be changed and the. valve of the tilled receptacle will be opened; and at 'iqo Receptacles or comtherewith, a water the water while flowing therewith, after entering discharge pipes 27, from conducting pipes 48 and 49. j

Having fully described the several parts and their uses, a further explanation relating to operation is not necessary.

What I claim as up! invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is,---

1. In a water softening apparatus, the combination with aln oscillatory shaft, a

spout mounted uponl said shaft and tiltable" therewith, a water supply pipe disposed above said spout, a pair of compartments into which said spout alternately discharges, a rocking lover of ii form secured to the oscillatory shaft, a second oscillatory shaft, arms extending from said second oscillatory shaft upon opposite sides thereof, b'uckets pivotally mounted at the outer ends of said arms, links pivotally connected to the outer portions of the T arms and to the lower inner corners of said buckets, and means for actuating the second oscillatory shaft from the first named oscillatory shaft and in unison there'with. I

In a water softening'apparatus, the combination with an oscillatory shaft, a spout mounted upon said shaft and tiltable supply pipe disposed above said spout, av pair of compartments into which saidspout alternately discharges, a rocking lever of ,T-form secured to the oscillatory shaft, :1 fecond oscillatory shaft,

arms extending from said second oscillatory shaft upon opposite sides thereof, buckets pivotally mounted at the outer ends of said arms. links pivotallyconnected to the ou -er portions of the T arms and to the lower inner corners of said. buckets. and means for actuating the second oscillatory shaft from the first named oscillatory shaft and in unison therewith, .Iflltl means comprising an arm extending from the second oscillatory shaft and having a pin and slot connection with the T shaped rocking lever.

'3. In a water softeningapparatus, the

combination with an oscillatory shaft. :1

the first named oscillatory'shaft and in unison therewith, said means comprising an arm extending from the second oscillatory shaft and having a pin and slot connection with the T shaped rocking lever, an addi tional rocking lever upon the first named oscillatory shaft, a compartment abovewhich said rocking lever is located, links pivotally connected to the outer ends of said rocking lever, measuring receptacles secured to the opposite walls of said compartment, guide members secured to said measuring receptacles, measuring containers to which said links are pivotally connected, said guide members having goose neck terminals at their upper ends to cause the containers to be tilted at their upward limit of movement. 4. In a water softening apparatus, th

combination with an oscillatory shaft, a spout mounted upon said shaft and tiltable therewith, a water supply pipe disposed above said spent, apair of compartments into which said spout alternately discharges, a rocking lever of T form secured to the 0scillatory shaft, a second oscillatory shaft, arms extending from said second oscillatory shaft upon opposite sides thereof, buckets pivotally mounted at the outer ends of said arms, links pivotally connected to the outer portions of the T arms and to the lower inner corners of said buckets, and means for actuating the second oscillatory shaft from the first named oscillatory shaft and in unison therewith, said means comprising an arm extending from the second oscillatory shaft and having a pin and slot connection with the T shaped rocking lever, an additional rocking lever upon the first named oscillatory shaft, a compartment above which said rocking lever is located, links pivotally connected to the outer ends of said rocking lever. measuringreceptacles secured to the opposite walls of said compartment, guide members secured to said measuring receptacles, measuring containers to which said links pivotally connected, said guide members having goose neck terminals at their upper ends to cause the containersto be tilted at their upward limit of movement, a reciprocatory agitator disposed in the loottom of the last named compartment, and means for actuating said agitator from the first named oscillatory shaft.

Tn testimony whereof I have afiixed my. signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK C. HANSON.

Witnesses: HIRAM A. Srunons, A. F. CLARK. 

